Empowering refugees and locals to develop collaborative initiatives that improve Athenian neighborhoods
co-Athens is an initiative to bring together refugees who participate in Curing the Limbo program and active citizens’ groups of Athens, to co-create actions with positive impact for the city and its neighborhoods. Being one of the flag activities that manifests Curing the Limbo’s participatory philosophy of inclusion, co-Athens tests a model of transcultural cooperation. Igniting the birth of new and the transformation of existing communities, it includes refugees with asylum living in Athens, while working with local actors and taking actions that respond to local neighborhood needs.
Thematic categories for participative interventions were defined out of a methodologically meticulous process that involved both local and refugee communities into a series of public debates around neighborhood needs and city priorities.
Capitalising on the results of a number of public neighborhood events, but also taking into account the refugees’ skills and interests, the following thematic categories were developed as latent areas for collaborative actions:
Interventions that make public spaces more accessible
Activities around the promotion of alternative and local tourism
Development and empowerment of cultural neighborhood communities
Activities around sports and wellness
Environmental protection and alternative energy resources
Activities for cleaning and highlighting the public surfaces of buildings
